PC and Music News

Avid has announced the upcoming release of the Mbox 3 Mini, the Mbox 3 Mini and The Mbox 3 Pro.


The Mbox 3 Mini ($399) is the intro Avid Mbox interface. It is a 24-bit/48kHz, USB bus-powered 2 x 2 interface. It has 1 XLR mic/line combo input with 48V phantom power, 2 -1/4" instrument inputs, balanced output, headphone out, a mix control for zero-latency monitoring, and monitor volume knob. Rock-solid drivers ensure hardware compatibility with most major audio software (Logic, Live, Cubase, and more).

The Mbox 3 ($549) is a 4-in, 4-out USB 2.0 audio interface, with two microphone preamps (switchable between combi jack and 1/4" DI). In addition to the higher-speed USB 2.0 connection (up from USB 1.1 in the previous rev) are the Avid-branded version's improved 24-bit/96k converters (the Mbox 2 maxed out at 24/48).

Steinberg is proud to announce the release of WaveLab's latest incarnation, WaveLab 7. Adding new facilities to its previous versions for Windows, the seventh version now also sets a benchmark for audio editing and mastering under Mac OS X.

Its feature list includes the revamped graphical user interface which provides eminently convenient handling of audio material across multiple windows, montages and podcasts with an intelligent docking and scaling system. Brand-new VST3 plug-ins and restoration tools, the new, future-proof burning engine and its flexible multiprocessing capabilities are further highlights. WaveLab 7 is available as boxed version in the Steinberg Online Shop and from authorized Steinberg resellers for €599/£497. The stripped-down version, WaveLab Elements 7, is available as boxed and download version for €99/£82.

Reengineered from top to bottom, WaveLab 7 introduces several novelties to its user interface which makes working with audio much more intuitive as well as expediting workflows in audio editing and mastering with a convenient, completely customizable window and toolbar management system. WaveLab 7 also includes a restoration tool package encompassing specialized DeNoiser, DeBuzzer and DeClicker plug-ins by leading plug-in manufacturer Sonnox plus 30 new VST3 plug-ins for further processing, expanding the depth of WaveLab's vast range of functionality. DDP support and the entirely new CD and DVD-A burning engine are features that round out the functional additions to WaveLab 7.

WaveLab 7 is the comprehensive audio editing and mastering software application which may be used to record, edit, restore and publish audio by hobbyists and professional mastering engineers alike.

Modartt releases Pianoteq add-on Xylo (€49) which includes a Xylophone and a Bass Marimba. Simultaneously, Modartt announces two new add-ons collections: Chromatic Percussions (Vibes, Celeste, Xylo / €99) and Rock collection (Electric Pianos, Clavinet, Rock Piano / €89).

Xylophone and Bass Marimba are similar to the vibraphone but are using wooden bars instead of aluminium. Each bar, that vibrates when hit with mallets, is paired with a metallic resonator which is tuned to amplify the sound.

The origin of the xylophone dates back several thousand years in Africa and South East Asia. The marimba appeared at the same time and is today the symbol of Guatemalan music. Due to its huge size, the bass marimba sounds more than two octaves below the xylophone. Very popular both, they are used in various musical styles from classical to Latin and rock.

The Pianoteq virtual copies of these two instruments are respectively modelled after a modern 3½-octave French brand xylophone and a modern 5-octave French brand bass marimba. Thanks to the sophisticated Pianoteq physical model, they come in several variants and benefit from the recently developed humanization feature which allows varying the strike point, adding to the musician's interpretation a vivid and stunning realism.

Both instruments are part of the new Chromatic percussions collection (including add-ons Vibes, Celeste and Xylo) which is announced together with a Rock collection (including add-ons Electric Pianos, Clavinet and Rock Piano).

Produced in conjunction with Allen Morgan, this pack of presets for Superior Drummer 2.0 picks up right where Allen's last pack left of. Giving you yet another great set of tools to spice up your Superior Drummer 2.0 mixes.

Rock, pop, country or metal - whatever the project, these audio gems will help you bring your drum mix to life. Just download, install and mix - it really couldn't be much simpler.

Available now at a price of €7.

Ultrasone has released a new open-backed headphone in its PRO Series, the PRO 2900.

Ultrasone is releasing both a standard, single cable version and a balanced, double cable version of a pair of headphones.

While standard, single cable headphones are commonplace in most pro audio and audiophile applications, a balanced headphone coupled with a balanced amplifier is said to offer unique advantages over the former such as increased audio performance due to a doubling the slew rate and voltage swing power, while reducing distortion components & eliminating crosstalk.
PRO 2900 Features

Ultrasone's PRO 2900s has a black design, velvet covered black ear pads and a diamond-cut logo insignia on the ear cup. The PRO 2900 features a 40mm titanium-plated driver and a soft USC-Cable that is ...

TC Electronic is already at the forefront of loudness metering for the broadcast industry. With LM2 TC Electronic aims to "not only delivering the tools for next generation metering, it has also been instrumental in defining what those new standards should be".

By itself, LM2 is a full-featured stereo loudness and true-peak level meter for use in post and live production, broadcast ingest, linking and transmission. LM2's front panel displays the all-important numbers that reveal whether or not a certain broadcast standard is being met. It is also possible to bring up the Stats display for even more details, or LM2 can be connected to a PC or Mac via USB to get full, realtime Radar screen picture via the included Icon application.

Price: MSRP €1,500 (ex.VAT). Shipping: At IBC (10th-14th September 2010)